Struggling Rockets right themselves vs. T'Wolves

Luis Scola had 25 points and a career-high 21 rebounds and the
struggling Rockets righted themselves with a 112-98 victory over
the Timberwolves on Saturday night.

"We're at the point where we have to get wins where we can,"
Rockets coach Rick Adelman said.

Kevin Martin had 30 points and Aaron Brooks added 25 points and
nine assists for the Rockets. The game against Minnesota
couldn't have come at a better time for Houston, which had lost
five of seven to fall to 10th place in the West since acquiring
Martin in a trade with Sacramento.

But the Rockets hit 11 3-pointers and outrebounded the
Timberwolves 49-40 to beat Minnesota for the 11th straight time.

"We're right there in the playoff race," Scola said. "From now
on, every one of them is important."

It was big for Houston (31-30), which has had difficulty
integrating Martin and fellow newcomers Jordan Hill and Jared
Jeffries, who came from the Knicks in the Tracy McGrady trade.

"It's been difficult," Shane Battier said. "It's not an excuse
for our play, but it's reality. It takes time and a lot of
energy to integrate the new guys and let them know what our
culture is about, how we play, what we expect."

Kevin Love had 20 points and 11 rebounds and Ryan Gomes scored
17 for the Timberwolves, who have lost five in a row and 11 of
their last 12. Minnesota has won one game since beating Memphis
on Feb. 6.

The Timberwolves were without Al Jefferson, who served the
second of a two-game suspension after he was arrested for DWI
early Sunday morning. Jefferson has typically feasted on the
Rockets throughout his time in Minnesota, both when Yao Ming was
roaming the paint and against Houston's smaller front of Scola
and Chuck Hayes.

He had 26 points and a career-high 26 rebounds against the
Rockets on Jan. 13, and the Wolves sorely missed his presence on
the boards early.

Scola, the scrappy Argentinean, bullied the Timberwolves from
the jump, grabbing 12 of Houston's 22 rebounds in the first half
and scoring 17 points to give the Rockets a 60-50 lead at
halftime.

The Rockets used an 18-1 burst spanning the first and second
quarter to take control, then closed the third period with a 9-0
run to put the game out of reach.

"That's been our Achilles' heel all year long," Love said of
closing quarters. "We need to stop that, but it's easier said
than done."

Minnesota has struggled to defend the perimeter all season long,
and Brooks, Martin and Shane Battier had open looks all night
long. Martin's third 3 of the night came during a 15-2 run
spanning the third and fourth periods that put the game away.

The Wolves went without a field goal for 8:10 during that span
to fall behind 95-75. They had a 17-4 run to get back into it
before Scola knocked down a jumper and Brooks hit a 3-pointer to
seal the win.

"Fairly typical game for us," said Rambis, whose Wolves
attempted 18 more free throws, and held 20-point advantages in
fast-break points and points in the paint. "Pockets of playing
really well and pockets of playing very poorly."

NOTES: The Rockets played without F Trevor Ariza (left hip
pointer) for the fifth straight game and PG Kyle Lowry (sprained
left ankle) missed his 10th game in a row. ... One of Adelman's
assistants for Houston is Elston Turner, who was a finalist for
the Timberwolves' head coaching job this offseason that went to
Rambis. ... Wolves SG Corey Brewer made a 3-pointer in his 27th
straight game, extending his team record. Brooks has made a 3 in
a league-leading 34 straight games. ... Syracuse alum Jonny
Flynn was asked before the game about what happened to his No.
1-ranked Orange, who lost to Louisville on Saturday. "I don't
want to talk about it," Flynn said with a smile, shaking his
head.